Court Dates Set For Wage Freeze Challenge

Sep 05, 2018

The Court of
Queen's Bench has set 14 court dates in the legal challenge of the
Pallister government's wage freeze legislation (Bill 28: The Public Service Sustainability Act). The legal
challenge is being mounted by the MGEU along with 28 other unions in the
Partnership to Defend Public Services (PDPS).

The court dates will begin on November 18, 2019 running through to December 5, 2019.

“MGEU is a proud member of the PDPS. We strongly
believe the government is overstepping when trying to dictate wages to our
members and others across Manitoba,” said MGEU President Michelle
Gawronsky. “Our members deserve to be treated fairly and with respect. By
denying them the right to collectively bargain, the government is infringing on
their constitutional rights.”

PDPS lawyers, Garth Smorang and Shannon Carson of Myers LLP, will be
arguing that the legislation is unconstitutional and takes the right of
collective bargaining away from hard working Manitobans.

Bill 28 was introduced in the Manitoba Legislature on March 20, 2017 and
was passed into law on June 1, 2017. Essentially it dictates wages prior
to even starting the collective bargaining process. The mandate of the
bill includes:

A two-year wage freeze;

A maximum increase of .75% to the
rate of pay in year three of a collective agreement; and

A maximum increase of 1.0% to the
rate of pay in year four of a collective agreement.